Amitabh Bachchan, a legendary figure, is known for his strong values and principles. Back in the ’80s and ’90s, daughters were often seen as ‘paraya dhan’ (belonging to someone else). However, Amitabh always stood for equality and has been his daughter Shweta’s biggest supporter, celebrating her achievements as a writer and fashion designer.
In a 2011 interview, Amitabh opened up about his decision to distribute his wealth equally between his children.
He stated that this was a decision made long ago and reaffirmed that he does not believe in differentiating between his son and daughter. Speaking on this matter, Amitabh shared that in a society where women are often considered ‘paraya dhan,’ he wants to ensure his daughter enjoys the same rights as his son, Abhishek. He expressed:
I had decided on one thing: that I would not differentiate between them. When I die, whatever little I have will be equally divided between my daughter and my son — there is no differentiation. Jaya and I decided on that long time back. Everybody says that the girl is paraya dhan, she goes to her husband’s house, but in my eyes she is our daughter, she has the same rights Abhishek has.”
In the same conversation, Amitabh also mentioned that he had decided that if he were blessed with a son, he would treat him as a friend from the moment he started wearing his shoes. He shared that while he offers fatherly advice to Abhishek, their conversations are like those between friends.
“I had decided much before Abhishek was born that if I had a son he would be my friend rather than a son, and the day he started wearing my shoes, he became my friend. So now I treat him as a friend. I very rarely look upon him as a son. I am concerned about him as a father, I would look after him as a father, I would advice him as a father, but when I talk to him, we talk as friends.”
Last year, Amitabh made a significant gesture by gifting his first home, Pratiksha, in Juhu to his daughter Shweta. According to reports, this transfer was completed through two separate gift deeds for the plots on which the bungalow stands.
A family member revealed that the house had been unoccupied for nearly two decades following the passing of Amitabh’s mother in 2007. While he used to divide his time between his current residence, Jalsa, and Pratiksha, the decision to gift the property to Shweta had been made long ago, with the paperwork being a mere formality.
What are your thoughts on Amitabh’s decision to divide his assets equally between his children?
